Founded in late 2019 by Martin Altorfer and Philippe Bubb, session.vc is a Swiss based early stage investor that backs bold entrepreneurs in the Software and Consumer space in the DACH region.

Session.vc

Y Combinator is a startup accelerator that invests in a large number of startups twice a year. It created a new model for funding startups. Twice a year, the company invests a small amount of money ($150k) in a large number of startups. The startup accelerator works intensively with the companies for three months, to get them into the best possible shape and refine their pitch to investors. Each cycle culminates in Demo Day when the startups present their companies to a carefully selected, invite-only audience.

Y Combinator

Swiss Startup Group is a venture platform for scouting, building, accelerating, and investing in the most promising startups.

Swiss Startup Group

Serpentine Ventures (SERV) is the investment arm of the Swiss startup group. Serpentine refers to the meandering roads found across the Swiss Mountains. Unreachable mountain peaks become accessible by following the serpentine path.

Serpentine Ventures

Globivest is a private investment firm with a diversified portfolio of assets. Globivest focuses on innovative and scalable early stage start-ups and seeks to establish long term-relationships with visionary entrepreneurs while adding clear value in strategy and execution. Globivest also cares on having a positive social impact. a portion of the investments goes to innovative and conscious businesses that wish to make a difference in society.

Globivest

Pioneer Fund is a fund of 420+ Y Combinator alumni, investing in the top Y Combinator startups.

Pioneer Fund

Swiss Startup Capital AG, a fully owned subsidiary of Swiss Startup Group AG, is the investment arm of the group. The dedicated unit offers exclusive access to venture capital investments, unlocking new opportunities in the early-stage venture asset class.

Swiss Startup Capital

DD Venture Capital (DD = data-driven) is an early-stage investment firm. The company focuses on early-stage European FinTech ventures. The team provides capital, advisory and door opening.

DD Venture Capital

Pabio

Pabio is a rent-to-own furniture company that offers personalized interior design services. The company was founded in 2020 and has its headquarters in Weihergasse, Bern.

Pabio is a consumer and interior design startup that offers personalized interior design services with high-quality rental furniture for customers across Europe. Through its innovative rent-to-own business model, qualified customers can obtain USD 20,000 worth of new furniture curated by professional interior designers with no upfront payment, instead paying monthly subscription fees for up to four years.

Pabio - Startup Company Profile

Pabio - Product Information, Latest Updates, and Reviews 2024

Startup Stories - Subscription Startup Pabio

Technology to customize and procure furniture

Furniture Tech

Furniture rental company Pabio expands to Germany

Pabio is a consumer and interior design startup that offers personalized interior design services with high-quality rental furniture for customers across Europe. Through its innovative rent-to-own business model, qualified customers can obtain USD 20,000 worth of new furniture curated by professional interior designers with no upfront payment, instead paying monthly subscription fees for up to four years.
Pabio's asset-light approach involves a user-friendly digital experience powered by a web app. Customers go through a virtual onboarding process to share their design preferences, after which Pabio generates photorealistic 3D renders of fully furnished apartment interiors tailored to the user's floor plan and taste. Once the design proposal is approved, Pabio furnishes the customer's apartment accordingly. Upon moving out, the company takes back the rented furniture, renovates it, and repeats the cycle with new customers.
As of August 2021, Pabio's monthly recurring revenue (MRR) from furniture rental payments was growing at an impressive 100% month-over-month rate since its launch in March 2021. The company has successfully furnished over 60 apartments in Switzerland as of 2022 and aims to expand its services to Germany and England by late 2022 or early 2023.

Casper Sleep Inc. is an award-winning sleep company known for its design-driven products, unparalleled customer support, and seamless shopping experience. The company has revolutionized the mattress industry by offering a direct-to-consumer model, allowing customers to purchase affordable, high-quality mattresses online and have them delivered in a compact box.
Casper's mattresses are designed with three core principles in mind: cooling, support, and comfort. The company's research and development arm, Casper Labs, obsessively engineers its sleep offerings, including mattresses, pillows, bedding, and furniture. In January 2024, Casper unveiled a new line of mattresses reflecting the most up-to-date needs of customers, set to launch in February 2024.
Casper operates on a subscription-based model, where customers can purchase products directly from their ecommerce platform or through authorized retail partners. The company offers a 100-night risk-free trial, allowing customers to return the mattress if unsatisfied, and has it donated to charity or recycled. As of October 2019, Casper served over 1 million customers across eight countries and generated USD 439 million in revenue for the year.

Casper

MADE is a pioneering, family-founded British business dedicated to designing and manufacturing high-end, contemporary furniture. Their pieces are meticulously crafted from sustainable materials like solid wood sourced from European managed forests and estates with proper certifications. MADE embraces innovative technologies and continuously refines its practices to minimize environmental impact, aiming for low resource consumption, reduced emissions, and minimal waste disposal.
The company utilizes its own timber and sawdust waste to heat its factory, offers reupholstery services to extend furniture lifespan, and uses recyclable packaging materials. By producing furniture made-to-order, MADE ensures a respectful approach to resource utilization. With an internal Environmental Management system and ISO14001 accreditation, the brand maintains ethical working practices and a commitment to reducing harm to the environment, achieving the highest 'A' level rating on its Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

MADE

Simba Sleep is a British company that manufactures mattresses, mattress toppers, and other bedding products. Its flagship product is the Simba mattress, designed using data from over 10 million sleepers and featuring 2,500 conical pocket springs combined with responsive memory foam. Simba utilizes advanced technologies like open-cell foam structures and graphite-infused cooling layers to enhance breathability and temperature regulation.
The company sources materials from local UK suppliers and manufactures its products in Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Simba emphasizes environmental sustainability by using eco-friendly materials and processes. Its mattresses are designed to adapt to different body types and sleeping positions, providing optimal comfort and support.
As of 2024, Simba has achieved sales of over 750,000 sleep products worldwide and has amassed over 200,000 reviews with an average rating of 4.76 stars. The company offers a 200-night trial period and a 10-year warranty on its mattresses.

Simba Sleep

Havenly is an online interior design service that provides professional design assistance to customers across the US. It connects customers with vetted interior designers who create customized design plans based on the customer's style preferences, space, and budget. The service offers two main packages - the Havenly Mini (USD 79) for a room refresh, and the Havenly Full (USD 129) for a complete room redesign.
The design process begins with a style quiz to determine the customer's design aesthetic. Customers are then matched with a designer based on their preferences, and they collaborate through an online platform. The designer shares initial concept boards, which the customer can provide feedback on, leading to a final design with a layout plan, 3D renderings (for the Full package), and a curated shopping list for purchasing furniture and decor.
Havenly's strength lies in its ecommerce integration, allowing customers to conveniently purchase the recommended products directly through the platform. The company partners with over 200 retailers to offer a wide range of furniture and decor options across various styles and price points. In February 2022, Havenly acquired The Inside, a direct-to-consumer home furnishings brand offering customizable furniture, expanding its product offerings.
In May 2022, Havenly introduced in-person design services in select US markets, combining virtual tools like 3D renderings with hands-on consultations and styling by designers. This expansion aligned with the company's mission to make interior design more accessible and personalized.

Havenly

GAIA is a leading Mexican furniture manufacturer renowned for its commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. The company is the first in Mexico to develop furniture using certified wood sourced from sustainable forests, steering clear of materials like MDF. GAIA's product line encompasses a diverse range, including sofas, chairs, dining sets, tables, beds, wardrobes, and more, catering to residential and commercial spaces alike.
The brand prides itself on offering high-quality, natural designs that prioritize functionality and durability. GAIA's philosophy revolves around creating innovative, eco-friendly products that can be recycled, thereby minimizing their environmental impact. In addition to its nine branches across Mexico, the company has forged partnerships with local NGOs, further solidifying its dedication to sustainability.
GAIA has pioneered a new concept of modularity for its bathroom furniture line, enabling customers to customize and compose their desired solutions from various components. This approach allows for tailored aesthetics by selecting from nine distinct front panel designs, including Simple, Natura, Twist, Robin, Orizzonte, Auto, Wave, Domino, and Garden. Customers can independently create and price their ideal furnishing solutions, ensuring a personalized experience.
The company's recent catalogue expansion introduced a range of vanity unit configurations, with options for drawer modules, door modules, open compartments, and side modules. GAIA offers a versatile selection of countertop materials, including polished or matte white ceramic, crystal glass, matte resin, marble, and wood, catering to diverse design preferences.
In February 2021, GAIA unveiled its flagship store in Mexico City's Colonia Roma area, a vibrant cultural and commercial hub. The store's façade features a striking design with hand-made black concrete panels and steel beams, creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow.

GAIA

Includes companies that offer furniture for a monthly rental, offered on a subscription basis or rent-to-own basis

Companies that develop customized furniture based on specifications (material, color, design, etc.) selected on the website by the customer

Companies that develop IoT-enabled furniture, usually controlled via a mobile app (e.g., an app-controlled bed that allows users to customize bed settings, create lighting scenarios, open safe drawers, etc.)

Companies that provide an online marketplace for P2P and B2B2C buying and selling for both used and new furniture

Companies that offer ready-made furniture sold directly through the website

Companies that offer virtual interior design solutions to design spaces, including furniture. These companies also typically offer furniture sourcing, installation, and coordination activities

Companies that develop lego-like and modular furniture systems that are easy to assemble and disassemble. Also includes space-saving expandable furniture systems

Customized furniture based on specifications selected on the website by the customer or virtual designs

IoT-connected furniture typically with the option of control through a mobile app

Furniture rental platforms that offer furniture on subscription basis or rent-to-own basis

Some companies offer IoT-connected furniture with the option of control through a mobile app

Pabio

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